Filling-end controller for looms.



T. CARTER. FILLING END CONTROLLER FOR LOOMS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 26.1918- Patented Feb. 4,1919.

smrns PATENT OFFICE.

; THOMAS can'rnn, or IBELTON, scorn cenonma, 'assienon 'ro nmn'n CORPORATION, or Hermann, massacnosnms, A conroiwrron or" MAINE.

.times, a new supply of filling is provided FILLING-END CONTROLLER FOB LOOMS.

'tion,-like characters on the rawings representlng' like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to filling end controllers whereby the end of the filling wound upon a carrier or bobbin automatically is found and extended, and more particularly the present invention is directed to developments or improve ments on the filling end controlling mechanism disclosed in a rior application, Serial Number 87,358, file March, 28, 1916.

In filling replenishing looms, where, at

while the loom continues to run, it is necessary to lead the filling end from the carrier or-bobbin on which the supply is wound and hold it while the shuttle makes one or more picks to insure that filling be laid in the shed and, in case the supply iseifected by a change in the carrier or bobblns, that the shuttle be properly threaded. It has been the usual practice for the attendant to find the end portionof the filling which.

clings to the mass of wvound yarn and withdraw a portion suflicient to secure to some part of the loom after the carrier or bobbin has been placed by hand into the transfer or supply hopper. -In the apparatus disclosed in the prior application above-noted, me-

i chanical means was provided for finding the end portion of the filling wound upon the carriers or bobbins and then extending the end of the filling, so that when the filling carrier or bobbin was transferred to the shuttle, filling would be laid in the shed and the shuttle itself be pro erly threaded. The

apparatus was descri d as preferably, though not necessarily, associated with a loom and as driven from-a going part thereof, and hand-operated means was provided for rendering the mechanism operative from time to time. This arrangement has worked well and efliciently in practice, but required Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 218,845.

the attention of the weaver from time to time to start and stop the mechanism according to the supply of the carriers or bobbins prepared for the transferring operation.

An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in means for automatically startingand stoppin the mechanism, so that a pro er supp y of wound carriers or' bobbins rom which the end .of the filling has been extended is always .available independently of any special attention on the part of the attendant. In carrying this feature of the invention into practical effect the illustrated embodiment thereof provides a main and auxiliary or transfer hopper, from the latter of which filling carriers or bobbins having the filling ends extended therefrom are delivered to transferring position, means being provided for maintainin the supply of filling carriers or bobbins in t e auxiliary or transfer hopper sufiicient for working purposes.

The main and auxiliary or transfer hoppers are prefera'bl so arranged and supported relative to t e loomthat as they pass from the main to the auxiliary or transfer hopper, the filling finder will act upon the wound mass of filling, find the filling end portion and extend it. In this relation of-parts the means for controlling the operative or inoperative condition of the controlling mech-- anism is preferably combined with the parts so that when the number of filling carriers in the auxiliary or transfer hopper has reached a predetermined minimum, .the

parts will be made operatively effective to add to the auxiliary or transfer hopper filling carriers or bobbins, the ends of the filling of which are properly found and extended by the filling end finder.

following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, which shows one good,.practical form of the invention, and

such features will be made the subject of tain operative parts of a filling replenishing loom and containing features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the means for rendering the apparatus or mechanism'operative and inoperative;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the main and auxiliary hopper, also showing a good practical form of means for controlling the operative or 'lnoperatwe con dition of the mechanism.

Suitably mounted on a support such as the bracket 1 which may be secured to the 100111 frame or other sustaining means, is a main hopper 2 which maybe of the same general character and construction as that described in the prior application to which reference has been made. Supported below the main hopper 1 is the supporting stand or bracket 3 on which the filling end finder carriage 4 is mounted for movement toward and from filling finding position. The filling end finder 5, its spring-actuated stem 6 and the means for actuating the filling end finder to act upon the mass of yarn wound upon the filling carrier or bobbin and find and engage the end portion of filling, and the sprocket chain 7 for moving the filllng finder carriage 4 from its'filling finding position may all be substantially as fully disclosed in said prior application. Likewise, the means for causing the filling. end finder to extend, hold, and then release the end of the filling after such end has been extended from the filling carrier or bobbin may likewise be all as fully disclosed in said application.

Mounted upon a suitable support such as the bracket 1, is the auxiliary or transfer hopper 8 which is disposed below the main hopper2, and in the present instance, is formed of the two side walls 9 and 10, a suitable opening being provided in the top of the hopper 8 for the reception of the filling carriers as they are delivered from the main hopper 2. The outer end walls 11 and 12 of the auxiliary or transfer hopper are formed to provide a slot 13 through which the ends 14 of the filling leading from the filling carriers or bobbins may extend. At

' the lower portion therear end wall of the auxiliary or transfer hopper is turned frontwardly as at 15 over the edge of which the filling is guided, and a yielding support or plate 16 supports the tip end portions of the filling carriersor bobbins 17 as they are delivered to transferring position. A similar yielding support may be provided as indicated in Fig. 3, at 18, for sustaining the base end portions of the filling carriers or bobbins and suitable stops 19 and 20 are provided for properly positioning the leading filling carrier or bobbin for the action of 'the transferrer 21. The transferrer 21 may be of usual construction and is shown as provided with a hub portion 22 suitably mounted on a stud 23 for rocking movement under the impulse of an arm 24, which, upon call for filling replenishment, is actuated by a hunter mechanism common in filling replenishing looms for causing the transferrer to transfer a positioned filling carrier or bobbin from the auxiliary or transfer hopper to the shuttle 25, Fig. 3, beneath. A spring 26, of usual. construction, may be employed to assist in returning the transferrer 21 to initial orinactive position. In order that the filling carrier or bobbin which is positioned for transfer may be properly directed into the shuttle from the transfer hopper as the transferrer descends, the positioning wall 19 and the tip support 27 may be yieldingly mounted to permit the filling carrier to pass. \Vhen the filling carrier is thus transferred from the auxiliary or transfer hop-per to the shuttle beneath, the filling end leading therefrom slides over the curved wall 28.at the outer portion of the hopper without obstruction, so that the, filling end may lead direct from the filling carrier after transfer the action of a spring 33, and said arm at its' lower end portion carries a roll 34 which may be actuated at desired times through the master gear 35, as fully disclosed in said prior application. The roll 34, Fig. 3, when in normal position as indicated in Fig. 3, is

adapted to receive upon it one of the filling carriers or bobbins from the main hopper :2, and to sustain and rotate said filling carrier while the filling end finder 5 acts upon the wound mass of filling to find and engage the filling end. These parts maybe all as fully disclosed in said prior application, the construction being such that after the filling end finder has found the end of the filling and extended it or carried it to the right, Fig. 1, the arm 32 may be actuated in timed relation to release the filling carrier or bobbin the filling end of which has been engaged and extended by the .filling end filling carriers or bobbins in the auxilia finder and permit such filling carrier or bobbin to be delivered to the auxiliary or transfer hopper beneath.

Suitably mounted upon a stud 36, Fig. 2, is the main drive wheel or pulley. 3 which. may be continuously driven from any suitable source of power and, as pointed out in said prior app ication, may be actuated from some going part of the loom.

Loosely mounted upon the stud shaft 36 is the toothed wheel 38,. the hub portion of which is extended and provided with a groove 39 which is engagfd by a pin 40 su ported by the rock sha 41 WhlCh may e sustained in a suitable block or other support 42 secured to the main hopper 2. The

toothed wheel 38 engages the teeth of the master wheel 35 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the construction being such that shouldthe toothed wheel 38 be actuated, it will impart operative movement to the master wheel 35 which, as more fully pointed out and disclosed in said prior'application, effects operation of the various par-ts of the controlling mechanism.

Between the guiding pulley 37 and the toothed wheel 38 are clutch members whereby, at desired times, the toothed wheel38 may be clutched to and thereby operate from the driving pulley37. In the present instance of the invention,.the hub por-'- tion 43 of the driving pulley 37 is provided with a pin 44 which, when the toothed wheel 38 is moved longitudinallyto the left, Fig. 2, is adapted to engage a recess 45in; theface of the toothed wheel 38 and clutch such tooth7wheel operatively to the driving pulley3 As hereinbefore indicated, the present in- H vention seeks to provide means whereby the controlling mechanism may be automatically started and stopped independent of attention on the part of the attendant and thus maintain at all times a suiiicient supply of filling carriers or bobbins in the auxiliary or transfer hopper for working purposes. In the present instance of the invention, means are provided to start the controlling mechanism into operation when the number of or transfer hopper reach a predetermined minimum, and to stop the operation of said mechanism when a suiiicient supply of fill-- ing carriers or bobbins have been delivered to the auxiliary or transfer hopper.

The means for thus controlling the operative' orino erative condition of the controlling mec anism may be variously contrived, and in the present instance a finger 46 ispivotall'y mounted at 47 on a stud 48 projecting from the bracket 1, said finger having al downturned portion 49 projecting 'intofthe' auxiliary or transfer hopper, substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Connected to the finger 46 at 50 is a link 51, the upper end portion of which is connected at 52 with an arm 53 secured to the rock shaft 41, the construction being such that should the finger 46 be rocked upon its pivotal support, such motion will be transmitted through the connections described, to the pin 40 and perforce, move the tooth wheel 38 toward or from the driving pulley 37. When a sufiicient supply of filling carriers or bobbins is contained within theauxiliary or transfer hopper 8, the downturned end portion 49 of the .finger 46 will be depressed, thereby liftin the link 51 and throwing the toothed w eel 38 to the right, Fig. 2, thereby.,disconnecting the clutch members 44 and 45 from operative relation and permitting the controllin mechanism to remain. at rest. When, owever, the transferrer has removed one or more filling carriers or bobbins ,from the auxiliary or transfer hopper 8, the downturned end portion 49 of the finger 46 will be freed from engagement by a filling carrier or bobbin and as pointed out in said prior application,

the'filling end finder will be made'e-fiective to find and engage the filling on thefilling carrier or bobbin which at the time rests upon the roll 34 and thereafter will be moved to the rilgjit of Fig. 1', to extend'the filling from the ling carrier or bobbin, and the filling carrier or bobbin from which the end has thus been extended, will thereafter be transferred to the auxiliary or transfer hopper 8 bymovement of the roll 34 from under the filling carrier or bobbin, as pointed out in the said application. This operative condition of the controlling mechanism will continue until the predetermined minimum number of filling carriers or'bobbins have been treated and delivered to the cured in fixed position with respect to the shaft 55 is the yarn holder 59. This may be variously formed, but as indicated in the drawings, comprises an arm secured to the clutch the bracket 3' and having'nn enlarged head portion at its extremity. Secured to the shaft 55 is an arm 61 which, as the shaft 55 is rotated, is moved in a curved or circular path to engage the filling extended and held travels in its curved or circular path past the filling end finder, the construction being suchthat the filling thus grasped between the circular portions of the parts 62 will be firmly held and caused to travel with the arm 61 and be by it wrapped a plural number of times about the holder 59. Obviously, the grasping portions of the arm 61 may be otherwise formed, the essential in this respect being that the extended portion of the filling be grasped with sufficient firmness and positiveness to insure its being carried a plural number of times about the holder 59 to thereby insure proper security of the end of the filling to prevent its withdrawal from the holder when, after a replenishing operation, the shuttle is picked.

In the illustrated form of the invention,

. the actuation of the finger 46 for starting the controlling mechanism into operation has'been described as dependent upon the weight of the several parts between thefinger 46 and the rock shaft 41, but it is ,evi-

dent, of course, that additional means may be provided for this purpose if found desirable or necessary. I

What is claimed is 1. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a main hopper for holding wound filling carriers or bobbins, a transfer hopper for delivering the Wound carriers or bobbins to position for transfer to the shuttle, a filling end finder for finding and engaging the end of the Wound filling and extending it from a carrier or bobbin, and means controlled by the Wound carriers or bobbins, the filling ends of which have been found, for rendering the filling end finder operative or inoperative.

' 2. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a main hopper, a transfer hopper, means for discharging wound filling carriers or bobbins from the main to' the transfer hopper, a filling end finder to. find and engage the end portion of the wound filling on a carrier or bobbin, and means controlled-by the number of filling carriers, in one of said hoppers for automatically rendering the filling end finder operative inoperative.

3. A filling end controller, comprising, in combination, a filling end finder to find and engage the end portion of the wound filling by on a carrier or bobbin and extend it from the carrier or bobbin, a hopper for delivering the filling carriers or bobbins to position for transfer after the filling ends have been found and extended by the filling end finder, and means controlled by the woundfilling carriers or bobbins, the endsofthe filling of which have been found for automatically rendering the filling end finder operative or inoperative.

4. A filling end controller comprising, in combination, a filling end finder to find and engage the end portion of the wound filling on a carrier or bobbin and extend it from the carrier or bobbin, means for securing the 7 extended end of the filling, a hopper for delivering the filling carriers or bobbins to W' sition for transfer after the filling ends have been found and extended by the filling endportion of the wound filling before the carrier or bobbin reaches transferring position, and means controlled by a filling carrier in the hopper for automatically rendering the filling end finder operative or inoperative.

6. A filling end controller, comprising, in combination, a hopper for directing Wound filling carriers to transferring position, a filling end finder to find and extend the end portion of the Wound filling, means for se curing the end portion of the extended fill-'- ing, and means controlled by a filling carrier in the hopper for automatically rendering the filling end finder operative or inoperativ'e.

7. A filling end controller mechanism,

comprising in combination, a hopper for de-,

livering Wound filling carriers or bobbins to transferring position, a filling end finder,

means for causing said finder to act upon the-wound mass of filling on a carrier or bobbin to find and engage the end portion thereof and extend it from the carrier or bobbin, and automatic means for rendering said filling end finder operative when the supply of wound carriers or bobbins in the hopper reaches a predetermined limit.

.8. A filling end controlling mechanism, comprising, in combination, a filling end finder to find and engage the end portion of engage the'end portion of the wound filling on a carrier or bobbin, ahopper to receive 4 bin, a hopper to receive carriers or bobbins the filling ends of which have been found by the finder, and automatic means for rendering the filling end finder operative when the number of filling carriers or bobbins in the hopper reaches a predetermined minimum. a

9. A filling end controller mechanism comprising, in combination, a fillin en finder to find and engage the end portlon of the filling on a. wound filling carrler or bobbin and extend it, means for securing the extended end portion of the fillin a hopper to receive carriers or bobbins the lling ends on which have. been found by the finder, and automatic means for rendering the filling end finder operative when the number of filling carriers orv bobbins in the hopper reachesa predetermined minimum.

10.111 a filling end controller, the combination of a filling end finder-to. find and engage the end portion of the wound filling on a carrier orbobbin, a hopperto hold woundcarriers or bobbins, and means controlled by the carriers or bobbins in the hopper for automatically rendering the filling end finder operative or' inoperative.

11. In a filling end controller, the. combination of a filling end finder to 'findand wound carriers or bobbins the filling ends I I on which have been found by the finder, and as means extendin into the hopper and adapted to bemoved y a fillin carrier or bobbin "for automatically control ing-the operative 'or inoperative condition of the filhng end finder.

12. In afilling end controller, the com binationof a main hopper, an auxiliary or transfer "hopper, a'filling end finder between the two hoppers to find the-end portion of the'filling wound'upon a carrier or bobbin and extend it therefrom, means for delivering a filling carrier to the auxiliary or trans fer hopper after the end-ofthe filling has been found by the finder, and means for causing the'fillingvend finder and delivery means to become effectual when the'number of filhng carriers or bobbinsin the auxiliary or transfer hopper reaches .a predetermined minimum.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main hopper, an auxiliary or transfer hopper, means between the two hoppers for finding the end portion of the filling wound u(pon a fillin carrier and extending the foun end beyon the end of the auxiliary or transfer hopper,

and automatic means for rendering the filling end finder operative when the number of carriers or bobbins in the auxiliary or ing wound filling carriers to transferring latter is swung across the I the end of the auxiliary or transfer hopper,

a start and stop element extending into the auxiliary or transfer hopper and automatically actuated-by a filling carrier or bobbin, and means controlled thereby for causing operative or .inoperative condition of the filling end finder. 15. In a filling end controller, the combination of a hopper or support for deliverposition, a filling end finder to find an extend the end of the filling wound upon a carrier,;-and automatic means controlled by the position of a filling carrier in the hopper or support for rendering the filling end finder operative or inoperative.

. 16. In a .filling end controller, the combination of a hopper or support for delivering woundfilling carriers to transferring position, a filling end finder to find and extend the end of the filling wound upon acari rier, meansfor grasping the extended filling end and win ing it about a holder, and automatic "means for rendering the finder and grasping means operative when the number. ofwound filling carriers, the ends of the filling of which have been found, reaches "a predetermined minimum.

17. In. a filling end controller, the combination of a filhng end finder to find and engage the end portion of the filling wound upon a carrier or bobbin and extend it, an arm having a terminal coiled portion and a guiding end projecting therefrom, means for swinging the arm to cause the projecting. end to first engage the fillin and then direct it between the termina coils as' the arm is swun 18. In a end controller, the combination of a filhng end finder to find and engage the end portion of the filling wound upon a carrier or bobbin and extend it, an arm'having a terminal clamping portion to positively hold the filling, a projection extended from the, arm to direct the filling into the clamping portion of the arm as the path of the extended filling, means for swmging the arm, and a holder about which the clamped fill-' ing may be wound a lural number-of times as the arm is swung y said means.

19. In a filling end controller, the combination of a filhng en'd finder to find and engage the end portion of the filling wound upon a carrier or bobbin and extend it, an

arm having filling grasping portions becarriers, a filling end finder, and means ex- 1( tended into the path ofmovementof the filling carriers in the hopper for automatically controlling the operative or inoperative condition of the finder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my I5 name to this specification.-

THOMAS CARTER. 

